The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-06
THE CITY'S LOUD PROTEST
AGAINST THE BARRACKS SITE FOR
A POST OFFICE.

y
ties Asked For Representative Nor
wood Criticised.
The opposition to locating the public
building on the Oglethorpe Barracks site
eliminated yesterday in vigorous protest
by a citizens meeting in which almost the
entire business interests of the city were
represented,
The meeting was held at the Exchange
Long Room, and was called by Acting
Mayor Schwarz, at the request of the Cot
ton Exchange, for the purpose of obtaining
an expression of public opinion in reference
10 the site which the government has
selected
Upon motion of Mr. H. NJ Conner Acting
Mayor Schwarz was made chairman. Mr..
G. F. Rossignol was elected Secretary.
President Flannery, of the Cotton Ex-
change offered the following resolutions
and moved their adoption:
OPPOSED TO TIE BARRACKS.
WHEREAS, It is currently reported that the
general government has purchased, or is about
to purchase all or part OF the Ogethorpe Bar
racks property, for site for public building
in which will he located the post office: and,
WHEREAS, The said location is so far removed
from the business centre. that serious incon-
Venience delay and probable loss will result to
the merchants OF the city; and,
WHEREAS, IL is confidently believed, that
location, suitable for all purposes To which the
public building will be applied, can be secured at
or near the centre OF the business portion Of the
city, that is 10 SAY, north of South Broad and
between Abercorn and Barnard streets; there
fore be il
Resolved. That the citizens Of Savannah in
public meeting assembled. do protest against
The selection Of the Oglethorpe Barracks prop
erty or any other property south of South Broad
street for the site for the public building, whc':
j to contain the post Office for the reasons as
signed in the fore- sipg prea,nble. and that the
Mayor of the city of savanna be requested to
convey to the honorable the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States, this protest,
accompanied by reques, tnat an agent of the
Treasury Department be designated to confer
with the municipal authorities and trade organ
izations Of the city of Savannah before deter
mining the location for the public building site.
Mr. W. B. Stillwell communicated the &C
ton of the Boar' of Trade Directors at their
meeting yesterda morning, in which they
urged the adoption of a vigorous protest
against the selection Of the proposed site.
Mr.. j. G. Hayward seconded the resolu-
tons offered by Capt Flannery. Before
they were v,,;-d upon Can't. D. G. Purse of
fered a substitute, as follows:
PUFF FOR MR.. NORWOOD.
Resolved That the thanks of this meeting
sre due to Hon Thomas VI. Norwood, member
Of Congress from this district, for his persistent
efforts IN securing an appropriation for public
building in this city, and that while. as in
divdual citizens. we may not agree that the
Oglethorpe Barracks property is the very best
site that could be chosen upon which TO erect
yet recognizing the honesty of purpose that has
characterized the efforts of the United States
Treasury officials to obtain other sites in which
they have been baked at every step We there
fore, as body of citizens, concur in the selec-
ton of the site as maue, and urge that the
work on the building be now pressed forward to
completion at as early day as possible.
The resolution was seconded by Capt.
Henry Blum.
Capt. Flannery vigorously opposed its
adoption. While willing to accord Mr.. Nor
wood due praise for his efforts in securing
the appropriation, he was unwilling 10
indorse his recommendation of site
WENT IT ON HIS OWN HOOK.
81 consider that Mr. Norwood has been
darelict in his duty. He has ignored the
interests Of Ia. constituents by failing to
consult their views and wishes. Upon his
recommendation the government has Sc
Iected site unSuited TO
the purposes for which it i; to
he used. He has ignored the
municipal authorities and trade organiza-
tions. and their interests are certainly
worthy of consideration, and has recon-
mended location which almost the entire
business interests of the city are opposed
to-
MOVE TO ADJOURN
Capt. Purse, without replying directly to
Capt. Flannerv, opposed any further dis
cussion, and moved an adjournment. The
meeting, he said, had been called not only
upon too short notice, but at an unseason-
able hour for the discussion OF so important
a question, in which so large a number of
people is interested. He did not consider it
p seemly thing to allow any trade organi-
zation, Cotton Exchange or Board of Trade
TO Lead the public into fight against the
United States Treasury Department. This
rnesting, be said. has been called to
oppose what has already been DONE The
selection of the site is an accomplished fact,
and by the adoption of the resolutions
which have been offered we are getting ny
ourselves in opposition to the Treasoi-.y of
the United States. Secretary Fairchild is
to-day examining the titles to the barracks
property.
THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE.
Capt. Purse went ON to say that the site
was not hastily selected. The government
had thirty d y in which to decide 1t was
not urged to an immediate decision. Now,
he added, is no time to discuss whether
the site is a suitable one. If there is
any opposition to the location let the citi-
zens of Savannah, not the business men of
Bay street, Congress street and Broughton
street alone, but the mechanics, the labor
ing people, who are unable to quit their
work at midday and who have an equal
right TO be heard, be given opportunity of
expressing their views. Capt. Purse then
turned his attention to the Improvement of
the river and harbor, which he regarded of
far greater Importance than quibbling over
the selection of a site for post office "The
responsibility in this matter, he said, "rests
with the government. had the property
10 sell, the government wanted it, and /
sold it."
AT SOME OTHER TIME
IF the citizens of Savannah desire to ad-
wise the government a the direction of its
affairs, and are not suited with the location
which has been settled upon, let it be done at
a time when every interest can be repre-
scented" Capt Purse then renewed his
motion to adjourn
Before vote was taken Capt Flannery
inquired how long since the barracks prop
erty was offered the government. 1t
was not more than eight or nine
days ago, he said, that paper
was circulated among the owners
of the barracks authorizing Capt Purse
to sell the property, but no mention was
made OF the purpose to which it was to be
put. He understood Capt Purse to say that
the government had taken thirty days in
which to consider the offer of the site.
mo, sir" replied Capt. Purse, Il said that
the government was given thirty DAYS in